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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 9:04:34
I'm in a depression and I'm bipolar II or some kinda mood disorder. He started me on lamictal 50 mg at bed time for two weeks then up to 100 a day he spaced my visit two weeks also. I have a week to go ..although I'm no irritable like I was I'm so depressed. Another week of agaony or should I call and tell him he has to add an antidepressant now!
thanks
Rainee
Posted by Sad Panda on April 26, 2004, at 10:20:33
In reply to should I call the Pdoc? so depressed, posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 9:04:34
> I'm in a depression and I'm bipolar II or some kinda mood disorder. He started me on lamictal 50 mg at bed time for two weeks then up to 100 a day he spaced my visit two weeks also. I have a week to go ..although I'm no irritable like I was I'm so depressed. Another week of agaony or should I call and tell him he has to add an antidepressant now!
> thanks
> Rainee
>
>Hi Rainee,
Do you get into a hypomanic or mixed state when you take AD's? If you have failed an SSRI or two & Effexor, it may be time to try something potent like Parnate.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 10:27:29
In reply to Re: should I call the Pdoc? so depressed » Rainee, posted by Sad Panda on April 26, 2004, at 10:20:33
I have not tried effexor. prozac worked really well in the begining and I felt wonderful maybe slightly manic. but then it gave way to lethargy weight gain it didn't hold my depression at bay but helped my anxiety and thoughts.
Thanks,
Rainee
Posted by Sad Panda on April 26, 2004, at 10:52:42
In reply to Re: should I call the Pdoc? so depressed, posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 10:27:29
> I have not tried effexor. prozac worked really well in the begining and I felt wonderful maybe slightly manic. but then it gave way to lethargy weight gain it didn't hold my depression at bay but helped my anxiety and thoughts.
>
> Thanks,
> Rainee
>
>Your symptoms sound a lot like mine except you are female & thinner than I. :)
If you have only tried one SSRI, I'd try another, either Lexapro or Zoloft. When you get up to a good dose of Lamictal it will still only act as a mild AD.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 14:26:39
In reply to Re: should I call the Pdoc? so depressed » Rainee, posted by Sad Panda on April 26, 2004, at 10:52:42
well I about 100 pounds overweight the last 40 ounds I'd say really came with the meds and I became lethargic.
so prozac was a blessing and a curse.
I tried paxil, lexapro no mania just the lethargy and can't stop my depression.
I just emailed my nephew who is a pdoc at a teaching hospital and he would rather me stay just on the stabilizer and push up the dose. he explained to me the nature of mood disorders and slow is the best way. but we can't rush the lamictal beacuse of rash. also if my thyroid is imbalanced the doc might add some hormone. Waiting for blood results.
I did have a bit of an up swing today so I will watch and wait.
thanks
Rainee
Posted by utopizen on April 26, 2004, at 19:43:59
In reply to Re: should I call the Pdoc? so depressed » Sad Panda, posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 14:26:39
Okay, if the clinical trials were correct with Abilify, changes are seen within 7-10 days. And with Straterra, changes seem to range from like day 1 to day 92, but a lot of this may have to do with dose tweaks.
Antidepressants, however, I mean your doc is going to barely ask you if you're responding for the first month, having tried them for soc. anxiety, and that's if they work at all.
Never had depression before, have it now, and never tried Straterra. I have ADD too. Was thinking of the ever popular combo, Provigil+Straterra, at once, since my pulmonary specialist said it has better effects than either drug alone in his patients. (But since I'm apparently a basket case, he has to yield to my stupid pdoc, who is more comfortable giving me Desoxyn+Klonopin than Straterra!)
Posted by utopizen on April 27, 2004, at 11:02:41
In reply to should I call the Pdoc? so depressed, posted by Rainee on April 26, 2004, at 9:04:34
> I'm in a depression and I'm bipolar II or some kinda mood disorder. He started me on lamictal 50 mg at bed time for two weeks then up to 100 a day he spaced my visit two weeks also. I have a week to go ..although I'm no irritable like I was I'm so depressed. Another week of agaony or should I call and tell him he has to add an antidepressant now!
> thanks
> RaineeI have a new pathetic doc who, after the second appt. when I mentioned I thought I was bipolar, dismissed it with a grin and said "don't over-diagnose yourself" without any follow-up questions. That was a month ago...
I tend to for some reason be very happy, smiley, even, during doc appts., and ths doc would last suspect I ever had depression.
Now I just contacted my pulmnologist (out of desperation, since my upcoming pdoc who's actually an expert isn't seeing me for the first time until 5/25). He advised I phone my doc (which is a statement about how pathetic my doc is, since we meet weekly yet never seem to achieve anything each time).
He also suggested that I consider an in-patient setting so they can closely titrate my doses. I'm actually open to that. I don't have suicidal ideation, but I also am concerned I could get this depression escalated if I don't get in control of it now.
I called my insurance provider, and I get 60 days a year covered. Since I have a PPO, I can literally walk in without a referral or prior approval or anything. And there's not even a co-pay. Sadly, however, substance abuse patients get longer coverage stays. Arrg.
Doesn't matter, I just need it to get closely watched to titrate my dose.
I can stay for 8 hours a day and go home at night or stay overnight. One's called a "partial."
I think it's better than going once a week to doc who is convinced Klonopin, Desoxyn and Ambien is all I need. I go to a very good college, so I guess he assumes that must mean I'm happy (?) I'm pretty certain right now I'm going to have to be withdrawn due to course deficiences... oh well.
Posted by Civ on April 27, 2004, at 18:24:01
In reply to Re: should I call the Pdoc? so depressed, posted by utopizen on April 27, 2004, at 11:02:41
> I have a new pathetic doc who, after the second appt. when I mentioned I thought I was bipolar, dismissed it with a grin and said "don't over-diagnose yourself" without any follow-up questions. That was a month ago...
>
> I tend to for some reason be very happy, smiley, even, during doc appts., and ths doc would last suspect I ever had depression.
>
> Now I just contacted my pulmnologist (out of desperation, since my upcoming pdoc who's actually an expert isn't seeing me for the first time until 5/25). He advised I phone my doc (which is a statement about how pathetic my doc is, since we meet weekly yet never seem to achieve anything each time).
>
> He also suggested that I consider an in-patient setting so they can closely titrate my doses. I'm actually open to that. I don't have suicidal ideation, but I also am concerned I could get this depression escalated if I don't get in control of it now.
>
> I called my insurance provider, and I get 60 days a year covered. Since I have a PPO, I can literally walk in without a referral or prior approval or anything. And there's not even a co-pay. Sadly, however, substance abuse patients get longer coverage stays. Arrg.
>
> Doesn't matter, I just need it to get closely watched to titrate my dose.
>
> I can stay for 8 hours a day and go home at night or stay overnight. One's called a "partial."
>
> I think it's better than going once a week to >doc who is convinced Klonopin, Desoxyn and >Ambien is all I need. I go to a very good >college, so I guess he assumes that must mean >I'm happy (?) I'm pretty certain right now I'm >going to have to be withdrawn due to course >deficiences... oh well.I can relate to, well, almost all of your story. I had to withdraw from 2 of my 5 classes and I'm extremely fortunate that the remainder are softballs. I'd be toast if the content was harder.
I also don't make much progress with my pdoc during my bi-monthly appointments.
And, strike three, I too think I have some bipolar type thing going on. Or at least a co-morbid OCD and ADD.
This is the end of the thread.
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